{"id":718418,"date":"2026-04-26T08:30:25","date_gmt":"2026-04-26T08:30:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/718418\/"},"modified":"2026-04-26T08:30:25","modified_gmt":"2026-04-26T08:30:25","slug":"the-3-biggest-positives-of-the-charlotte-hornets-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/718418\/","title":{"rendered":"The 3 biggest positives of the Charlotte Hornets\u2019 season"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Charlotte Hornets\u2019 postseason run may have wrapped up earlier than fans hoped, but there\u2019s still plenty of reason to feel optimistic. When you take the glass half full view, this season was a turning point. Their remarkable mid\u2011season surge became one of the league\u2019s most compelling storylines, and has set the stage for sky\u2011high expectations heading into next year<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Right now is genuinely one of the most exciting times to be a Hornets fan. The foundation they built this season feels real, sustainable, and ready to grow as the offseason continues. With that in mind, let\u2019s revisit the three biggest highlights that defined their year.<\/p>\n

From 19 wins to 44<\/p>\n

The Hornets opened the season 4-14 and somehow finished 44-38. After stumbling through those first 18 games, they ripped off a 40-24 stretch that completely rewrote the trajectory of the franchise. Not only was this a massive leap from last year\u2019s 19\u2011win campaign, but 44 wins ties the third\u2011best mark the Hornets have posted in the entire 21st century.<\/p>\n

A huge share of the credit belongs to Charles Lee. In just his second season, he engineered one of the most theatrical in\u2011season turnarounds in franchise history. He had a legitimate case for Coach of the Year<\/a>, even if he didn\u2019t end up a finalist. With Lee establishing a real culture and Jeff Peterson hitting on essentially every one of his 2025 draft picks, Charlotte suddenly looks like a team positioned to keep climbing.<\/p>\n

Props to the medical team for a mostly healthy season<\/p>\n

Injuries have derailed Charlotte for years, but this season flipped the script. What began with Brandon Miller\u2019s shoulder injury and LaMelo Ball\u2019s lingering ankle concerns<\/a> ended with one of the healthiest rotations the franchise has ever seen.<\/p>\n

Miller played wrapped like a partial mummy but still shot the ball at a high level. Ball logged 72 games\u2014his second\u2011highest total as a pro. In fact, every starter cleared the 65\u2011game mark. Kon Knueppel missed just one game. Sion James didn\u2019t miss any.<\/p>\n

The health and performance staff deserves real recognition for managing everything thrown their way. Even the curveballs worked out\u2014Jeff Peterson admitted it was his idea to bring Ball off the bench early in the year, a move that could\u2019ve backfired more dramatically. When the dust settled, Charlotte fielded one of its most consistently available lineups in a long time.<\/p>\n

No blockbuster trades, but Coby White\u2019s impact felt like one<\/p>\n

Charlotte didn\u2019t swing for the fences at the trade deadline, but they still walked away with one of the most impactful additions of the entire season without surrendering a first\u2011round pick. Enter Coby White, who stepped into his role and immediately delivered, averaging 15.6 points on efficient 46.1\/39.1\/83.9 shooting splits in just 19.3 minutes per game.<\/p>\n

White has essentially become what Tre Mann was projected to be: a burst of offense and steady ball\u2011handling when LaMelo Ball sits. He\u2019s cleared that bar with ease. His ice\u2011cold fadeaway to tie the game with 10 seconds left against Miami cemented his status as Charlotte\u2019s X\u2011factor<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Barring something completely unexpected this offseason, White looks like a long\u2011term piece in Charlotte. He\u2019s a player whose acquisition already feels like one of the front office\u2019s biggest steals.<\/p>\n

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